Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Late Latin
Origin: abstentio, from Latin abstinere; ABSTAIN

abstention

 noun
     
Related topics: Voting
ab‧sten‧tion
1PPV [uncountable and countable] an act of not voting for or against something:
The draft law was passed by 134 votes to 19, with 5 abstentions.
2 [uncountable] formal when you do not do something you enjoy doing
abstention from
fasting and abstention from intoxicating drinks
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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